Disciples

A believer’s life should be disciplined but not ruled by disciplines.

It is recorded that Jewish ideas of discipleship involved submitting to the authority of the chosen Rabbi and accepting his interpretation of Scripture.  It could even mean emulating the man’s manners and clothing.  In fact disciples were recognisable.

Examination of Jesus the Rabbi shows that he expected his followers to adopt such attitudes.  Look at the Sermon on the Mount where he repeats the phrase, “But I say unto you ...”.  Also, we can see his method in his living among his followers in a transparent way, responding to their questions and often challenging their attitudes and actions.  Being his disciple was much more than a theological seminary.  He expected them to be doers as well as hearers of his words. Thus, the disciples of Jesus changed and could be recognised as those who had been with him. 

We can detect some conflict between disciples of Jesus and those of John and other Rabbis of the time.  One very obvious difference is that Jesus did not teach disciplines.  He did not suggest spending an hour a day sitting on a pole (as the Greek STYLITES).  Nor did he encourage rules for the Sabbath or rules of abstinence.  What I am saying is that Jesus encouraged disciplined life but not a life of disciplines.  He did not encourage legalism of any kind.  This is why we can confidently declare that Christ Jesus sets us free!

We are enabled to be disciples of the Lord Jesus today through the filling and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ – Philippians 1.19).  This discipline requires constant filling and proper recognition of the Spirit’s fruit and gifts.  We are encouraged to put on Christ so that we will not make provision for the sinful human nature.  There are no disciplines that will achieve this.  By this I mean that there are no rituals, special observances or special “sacrifices” that will attain this.  We cannot achieve the merit needed to be in fellowship with God.  This is freely given through the grace of our Lord Jesus.  A disciplined life develops from submitting to Christ – believing in him, believing him and living according to his example.